Guest Post: A review of the Icom IC-R8600 wideband SDR receiver

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares the following guest post:


ICOM’s IC-R8600:   Can this mega-radio stay in the ring with big gun “legacy” receivers when it comes to shortwave band reception?

by Dan Robinson

When ICOM rolled out its new wideband receiver, the IC-R8600, I immediately took an interest in it.  I have been primarily a hardcore DX’er and SWL and avoided purchasing wideband receivers, including the predecessor IC-R8500, because they were limited in areas such as selectivity.

My experience with ICOM includes owning a IC-R71A and R72, both of which I found to be strong performers, as well as a IC-R75.  The R75 as everyone knows established a reputation as an excellent receiver that delivered bang for the buck, including for example 1hz readout and extreme stability.

In its design decisions with the 8600, ICOM clearly intended to hit it out of the park, taking a huge step from the 8500.  That can be seen in the amazing color 4.3 inch LCD display with fairly fast spectrum scope and waterfall displays, coverage from 10 kHz to 3 gHz, decoding capability in multiple protocols, (Baudot RTTY, D-STAR™, NXDN™, dPMR™, DCR (Digital Communication Radio) and APCO P25, and the combination of SDR and superheterodyne circuitry, with 2000 memories.

The new Icom IC-8600 at the 2017 Hamvention

At this point, there have been numerous reviews of the 8600, and videos are all over YouTube showing the basics of its operation and features.  It has numerous flexibilities selected from the front panel and within the menu system.  The ability to record directly to SDHC cards eliminates the need to attach an external solid state recorder (over the course of my DX career I accumulated many of these).  I can’t say enough about this capability which automatically keeps fully labeled logs.

Other features include ICOM’s wonderful Twin Passband Tuning, combined with the ability to adjust filters 1/2/3, adjustable attenuation, Digital AFC, tone controls, noise blanker digital noise reduction, speech enunciator, main tuning dial tension adjustment, synchronous L/U/Double sideband, adjustable panel brightness . . . in short, just about everything one would think should be included in a 21st century receiver of this kind, ICOM put in the 8600.  The firmware update released recently (1.30) added the capability to use the radio’s IQ output with HDSDR software, which means that the receiver is now not only a standalone but also functions easily with a PC.

Since the 8600 has been on the market for some time now, I discussed with Thomas Witherspoon of SWLing Post, the idea of obtaining an 8600 for the specific purpose of comparing it to some of the top receivers in my collection.

JRC NRD-515

At the current time, that list includes a JRC NRD-545, the Drake R-8 (original version purchased in 1993), JRC NRD-515, Watkins Johnson 8718A/MFP, Cubic R-2411, and a McKay Dymek DR-33C.  All of the radios in my shack use a Wellbrook 1530 loop, fed through a RF Systems DA-8 Distributor/Amplifier which maintains signal levels from all outputs.

Watkins Johnson 8718A/MFP

A surprising outcome of my comparisons of the 8600 to these radios is that my appreciation of the qualities of these older receivers was actually re-ignited–so much so that some that had been on my ‘to sell’ list are now back in the ‘keepers’ column.  This is not as much a criticism of the 8600, as it is a reaffirmation of the quality that was built in to some of the great receivers of yesteryear.

Because my collection actually extends across 2 or 3 rooms, moving the 8600 away from my central receiver “stack” was not possible, so testing comparisons were limited to the sets mentioned above.  I would have liked to compare the 8600 with, for example, some classic tube receivers (HQ-180A, Eddystone 830/7), but they have been mostly inactive and located away from incoming antenna inputs.

Here in Potomac, MD outside of Washington, DC, the addition of the Wellbrook a few years ago, after years suffering with long wires, fundamentally changed a difficult situation. Signals were boosted, noise reduced.  I wish things had continued this way.  Unfortunately about a year ago, my area began to be plagued by a troubling ignition-type buzz, source unknown, targeting 11,500 to 12,100 khz though noticed elsewhere in the shortwave bands. It has continued, usually worse in summer than in winter.

I begin with this to underscore what I noticed as a high point for the 8600:  its Noise Blanker and digital noise reduction are in my opinion quite effective, so much so that when properly adjusted, they can eliminate troublesome ignition-type noise.  While NR is useful, as noted in other reviews it needs to be used carefully so as not to introduce too much digital suppression.

Here is an example of NB and NR in use against severe ignition-type noise at my location:

Click here to view on YouTube.

In August of 2017, I had my first experience tuning a 8600 at a DXpedition in Ohio.

So, I had a basic grasp of the various controls — the A/B/C knobs, and the menu system.  When I received my review unit from ICOM last November, I was up and running quickly, but still puzzled over some aspects of the receiver’s operation.

Thanks to Dave Zantow who alerted me to a possible issue involving firmware 1.30 which appeared to introduce an increase in audio harshness (ICOM has been alerted to this).  Dave also had suggestions (see his full review of the 8600 and other receivers on his site) about audio adjustment and speakers, and tweaking of the front display to make maximum use of the Peak and Waterfall settings.  Dave emphasizes that careful adjustment is required of the 8600’s tone controls and AGC decay settings to get the most out of the receiver.

Because it is among the receivers in my shack in close proximity to the 8600, I chose to perform a number of tests comparing the ICOM to the Japan Radio Company NRD-545.  As everyone knows, the 545 was the last in JRC’s prosumer line of receivers.  It is feature-rich — JRC threw everything into this receiver.  But one issue followed JRC receivers through the 5xxxx series — noisy audio.  After finally acquiring a 545 some years ago (a high serial number unit formerly owned by the late Don Jensen) I jumped on that bandwagon of criticisms about the 545’s audio.  However, in terms of sensitivity and numerous tools to hear and process signals, the receiver remains among my favorites, and this remains the case after my comparisons with the 8600.

When I compared signals heard by the 8600 with the 545, I found that while the JRC does have that ‘DSP’ sound, it was in many situations actually clearer than the ICOM. That was the case even when following advice on adjusting the 8600’s tone controls and AGC.  The following two videos compare the 545 and 8600 on 5,905 khz and 17,655 khz.  A third shows the receivers on 6,040 khz demonstrating effectiveness of their notch filtering capabilities:

ICOM IC-R8600 v NRD-545 on 5,905 kHz

Click here to view on YouTube.

ICOM IC-R8600 v NRD-545 on 17,655 kHz

Click here to view on YouTube.

ICOM IC-R8600 v NRD-545 notch on 6,040 kHz

Click here to view on YouTube.

My next comparison was the Drake R8.   Little can be said about the Drake R8xxxx series of receivers that hasn’t been said.  That superb Drake audio, established with the R8 and continued through the R8B, puts these receivers at the top of the heap and makes stations stand out.  So, it’s little surprise then when compared to the 8600, which is an SDR in the HF range up to 30 mhz or so, the R8 still sounded superior on many, though not all, stations.  Use of the SYNC mode (not adjustable on the original R8, but was on the R8A/B) also improves recoverable detail on the Drake.

The following video shows the 8600, 545 and finally the R8 on 5,995 khz (Mali), and the three receivers compared on 9,650 khz (Guinea), and a third comparing the 8600 with the full range of receivers in my main receiver stack, tuned to 9,415 khz which at the time was China Radio International.

Click here to view on YouTube.

Click here to view on YouTube.

Click here to view on YouTube.

Despite what some critics have said, I believe that the 8600’s synchronous detection modes are actually pretty good, helping with fading and stabilizing signals. I think the ICOM’s sync is certainly superior to what I experienced with the IC-R75. I would rate the SYNC on the AOR 7030+ superior to the 8600, with the NRD-545 a bit behind the 8600.

Acquired about 2 years ago, my AOR-7030+ is a late serial number version of this fantastic receiver.  If I were to sell every radio in my shack but 5, the 7030 would not leave.  Put simply, it is among the top shortwave receivers ever made, with off-the-charts audio, and if one has the rare NB7030 card, amazing notch and other capabilities.  Comparing the 7030 to almost any other shortwave receiver ever made is like putting a Ferrari on the track with the competition.  The audio, and reception tools are just that good.

At the same time, in the 8600 ICOM has produced a receiver that has as many of the essential tools required to manipulate and clarify signals as exist.  The twin passband tuning continues to be superb.  Being able to vary bandwidth in conjunction with the PBT, and do so even in SYNC mode, further enhances reception powers.  Combine this with the ability to actually see signals on the 8600’s beautiful color LCD — we’re getting pretty close to the ultimate receiver (though I would love for someone to drop the successor to ICOM’s IC-R9500 on my front doorstep).

The following videos compare the 8600 to the same full range of receivers, ending with the Watkins Johnson 8718A/MFP, all tuned to 5,935 khz, followed by a comparison of receivers tuned to 5,000 khz

Click here to view on YouTube.

Click here to view on YouTube.

In the following videos, I compare the 8600 to other receivers 11,810 khz (BBC) which shows
the superb audio of the Drake R8xxxx series, yet the 8600 does quite well, and another video
compares the 8600 with the 545 and R8 tuned to 6,070 khz.

Click here to view on YouTube.

Click here to view on YouTube.

In the months that I have had the 8600, I did some comparisons with other receivers, among them my Watkins Johnson 8718A/MFP, which you saw in several videos.  WJs prior to the 8711/HF-1000s were built like boat anchors and are QUIET.  WJ, Cubic and similar sets manufactured for government and intelligence agencies, shared superb sensitivity, and most cases, excellent audio.

Comparisons of the 8600 on shortwave frequencies had the so-called Premium radios out front. The ICOM clearly shined when it comes to modern signal processing and adjustment tools such as PBT, Notch, and infinitely variable selectivity.

Summary

So, here’s a summary of my impressions after weeks of testing the ICOM IC-R8600 against some of the top gun receivers of yesteryear.

The 8600 scores a 10 on reception tools that are useful — though not crucial in these days of waning shortwave broadcasting activity — in producing and processing listenable audio:  Twin PBT, Notch and Auto-Notch, Variable Bandwidths (though limited at the high end to 10 kHz), Pre-Amp and Attenuation, and that beautiful color LCD that allows one to see signals.

Predictably, the 8600 doesn’t blow away premium receivers that were manufactured to pick up the signal equivalent of butterflies and targeted government and spy agencies, and it also does not out-perform a range of other classic receivers whose reputations are well-established.

From a sensitivity and audio perspective, there is no real competition with the Drake R8, which time and time again excels in producing superior easy-to-listen audio.  And the same holds for the AOR 7030+.

JRC’s NRD-515 more than holds its own and in many cases exceeds the 8600 in signal sensitivity, and producing listenable audio, despite its selectivity limitations.

The NRD-545 — maligned by critics for its DSP audio, often produced highly-listenable audio even in comparison with the 8600.  The ICOM and the 545 share features that provide tremendous flexibility, the tools required to slice and dice signals.  If the JRC NRDxxx receivers were the modern equivalent of such boat anchor classics as the Hammarlund HQ-180A, the 8600 is certainly at the top of the heap when it comes to having those same tools in a 21st century receiver.

Audio Samples

I performed some additional audio only tests between the 8600 and NRD-545 on several frequencies.  In each, I carouseled from wide to narrow on the 8600, and did the same on the NRD-545.   Here are the results:

9,445 kHz

IC-R8600

NRD-545

9,420 kHz

IC-R8600

NRD-545

11,735 kHz

IC-R8600

NRD-545

11,810 kHz

IC-R8600

NRD-545

11,945 kHz

IC-R8600

NRD-545

15,580 kHz

IC-R8600

NRD-545

6,070 kHz

IC-R8600

NRD-545

9,650 kHz

IC-R8600

NRD-545

11,900 kHz

IC-R8600

NRD-545

You may have noticed that while on some examples the 8600 appears to sound better, the 545, with DSP technology born in the 1990’s is more than competitive with the ICOM.

Conclusion

In conclusion, with the 8600 we have a receiver that tunes up to 3 gHz, with highly flexible color scope, usable with HDSDR, with every tool imaginable for sifting through signals from 10 kHz up to 30 MHz, which is the area I have focused on for decades.

ICOM’s superb Twin PBT knocks out interference and narrows the heck out of any signal, with highly adjustable notch capabilities, customizable bandwidth functions, and what I consider to be highly effective noise blanking and noise reduction.  Add to this 2,000 memory channels, multiple antenna inputs, adjustable attenuation and AGC and you have far more than what is needed given the current state of shortwave broadcasting.

Here’s the tough question:  Would I recommend that a shortwave listener focused on what remains of listening in the SW bands purchase a 8600?  Or to put it another way: Is the 8600 that much of a better radio in the SW spectrum?  The answer has to be no.

Numerous receivers from the classics to even the latest portables with multiple selectivity flexibility (see the XHDATA D-808 or Eton Satellit) work for that.  The used market overflows with superb HF communications receivers.  Any of the Drake R8xxx series receivers, available on the used market for $400 to $1,000, now constitute overkill when it comes to reception in the MW to 30 mHz range.

But if you can project someday to having the time and patience to apply yourself to what is available above 30 MHz, and have the appropriate antenna(s) for those ranges, then by all means, the 8600 is the radio for you.  It is the Babe Ruth’s bat of the receiver world — AND it has numerous flexible tools (though one wishes that ICOM had included DRM capability).

As I finalized this review, I continued to wrestle with the decision of purchasing the 8600 that was so generously provided by ICOM.  You won’t read here what my final decision was–but anyone who is interested can contact me in coming days and weeks to learn the answer.

Last minute update  Just before this review went to press, I discovered an issue of concern:  when the 8600 was left on overnight, or for any period of multiple hours, upon awakening from “sleep” (screen off) mode, nothing but distortion is heard from the speaker.  The only solution was to perform a POWER OFF/POWER ON, after which normal audio was heard.  This issue was I brought to the attention of ICOM.

I want to thank Ray Novak and Faheem Hussain of ICOM for providing the 8600 used in this comparison, and for their patience as I encountered several delays completing my review and getting to print.  And thanks to Thomas Witherspoon without whose initial encouragement, this review would not have been possible.


Dan, thank you for an amazing IC-R8600 review and comparison with your benchmark commercial grade receivers! Thanks for taking the time to make thorough comparison video and audio recordings. Your guest posts are always most welcome on the SWLing Post!

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17 thoughts on “Guest Post: A review of the Icom IC-R8600 wideband SDR receiver

  1. cistercian

    I recently, finally acquired a NRD-515. It is epic grade. Aside from the lack of noise fighting ability in the new radios, it’s basic performance is so high for SSB and AM use it remains a fantastic choice if you are not in a horrible urban location. No wonder they have a cult following…the 515 is that good. Epic AM BCB too.
    Only 475 with the matching speaker and an optional 8kc filter installed. Best buy ever!

    Reply
  2. AllRx

    Good review of the icom 8600 receiver, it has some spectacular performance figures, I wouldn’t mind having one in my radio room.
    Lately I am a bit disappointed with the manageability of these new radio devices whether they are receivers or transceivers, not because of their performance but because of the lack of keyboard and more buttons or knobs for operational adjustment on the front panel, now almost all have concentrated operability on touch screens, which forces you to take many steps to do what you were looking for, I am not against touch screens, on the contrary, it is a perfect complement and there is no going back on this,
    But I don’t like that they almost completely remove the adjustment buttons and knobs, bands, modes, att. .
    I guess they must be memories of my beloved R9000, that everything was at hand and in its place.

    I am creating a small blog dedicated to my love for receivers. I will include a review of your blog on my page.

    http://www.allrx.net

    Greetings

    Reply
  3. david wakeland

    my son had a nrd 525 purchased from universaql radio with filters optimized for rtty, utilities. it was stolen along with a universal m-7000 decoder.i want to surprise him with a new receiver. is this icom 8600 a good choice for the rtty listener and can it be optimized for that purpose.
    thank you

    Reply
  4. cistercian

    Thanks for the review. I have 2 Mackay Marine 3031A’s , Drake R8A, Icom R8500 and
    an Icom IC-7410. The mackays are amazing and really sweet for LF NDB…the Drake is very good too.
    The 8500 is just epic and I considered it the ultimate of my collection until I got the Icom 7410.
    The DSP and noise blanker in the 7410 is frankly epic grade and make weak ssb utilities easy as well
    as producing a compelling listening experience for SWB.

    I am sad to see more inexpensive production methods and designs being released that lack dynamic range but have pretty displays. I prefer dials and knobs to touch screens too.

    Note my ancient Hammarlund SP-600JX still acquits itself well for BCB DXing….but since I got the 7410
    I have not turned it on. I would rather see a R9500 type architecture radio that was 8000 dollars or less
    than this SDR rig. With sennheiser HD-600 phones the 7410 sounds EPIC.
    Truth is, the 7410 obsoleted every rig in the shack for HF thru LF. Of course, they discontinued it. I promptly bought a 9100 for backup. With all optional filters.

    The only other rig is then the IC-7700. Or the outrageously priced 7851.

    SDR is cool…but ultimate dynamic range is limited to the a/d converter chosen…which is one of the reasons the dinosaurs are still relevant and epic.

    Reply
  5. Louis Bardocz

    Great review Dan. I did extensive side by side testing of a new R8600 and my Drake R8B & Kenwood TS 850 transceiver. Although I have no regrets on purchasing the R8600, in terms of raw HF performance, I found them all very comparable. Thanks again for the great review!

    Reply
  6. Daniel Robinson

    Thanks for the comments from everyone. Yes, the 8600 is not really necessary for
    straight SW. In the comparisons, I was most impressed with the sensitivity of the NRD-515,
    which managed to pull out understandable audio on every station. As I said, if one is
    considering venturing into other frequency zones, the 8600 is a must-have, but otherwise
    not so much.

    Reply
  7. Jem Cullen

    Thanks for this. A really interesting review.
    I have been lusting for a 8600 for HF only but after reading this and as I have r75 r71 and R8 (love my r8), Im a bit cooled.
    Would be interested in seeing how r8600 compares to SDR “black boxes” like SDRplay and Airspy HF+ (not the cheap RTL dongles) on HF.

    Reply
    1. TomL

      Wonderful comparison review not really found anywhere else!

      I second this request. My limited comparison of an RSP2 (using SDR Console v.3) and a Grundig Satellit 800 shows the RSP2 is just as good except for a little more susceptibility to overload. SDR Console v.3 has excellent audio and excellent noise reduction (compared to v. 2.3) that helps it equal the audio of the larger receiver. However, I can now walk outdoors with the Backpack antenna, RSP2, and small Dell netbook computer. Can’t do that with the great old receivers.

      How would the new Air-Spy HF+ match up to an R8B ??

      Reply
  8. Robert

    Very Informative, and I have most of the same radios you have in your evaluation.. HDSDR software works well with the 8600! Most other radios have no extrernal capabilities, and are true stand alone radios.. Yes, Short Wave is fun to listen to, but the bands are loaded with so many other forms of communications, that you can always find something to decode.. Then comes the FUN FACTOR of playing with a radio… For me a key factor, and the 8600 sure does that for me.. Great Review, valuable information… PS: Just finished installing my SatComm Cross Polarized antennas.. Next week they should be feeding the 8600 for some Ham Satellite reception..

    Reply
  9. Token

    I currently own or have owned most of the receivers you compared the R8600 to, as well as many other classic receivers. I also have owned the R8600 since its release day, and I have been SDR focused in my listening hardware for the last 10 years or so.

    I have no argument, in fact I am in agreement, with your general summary. However, your comparisons and findings deal primarily with SWL, shortwave listening. If you step away from SWL towards Utility listening or anything else that is not SW BC related the R8600 gains a lot, in fact it starts to put some distance between itself and several of the radios you compared.

    I believe the end result is something like this:
    If you are an SWL or your primary listening is SW BC stations then the R8600 may be overkill, needlessly expensive when there are many other potential solutions as good or better and for significantly less cost. If your HF listening leans towards Utility or oddity stations, or if you have aspirations to work with signals above 30 MHz, the R8600 must be considered near the top of the list. Technically it is brilliant, innovative, in the area of hobby radio listening / monitoring, but at near professional levels of cost it should be.

    If Icom really wants to have a smash hit they may consider production of an HF only version of this radio, incorporating lessons learned from this and the IC-7300, and putting a bit of effort to produce a warmer, fuller, sound in the audio. The issue, of course, is I am not sure there is a large enough market to support such a radio or such an effort, even if it was half the price of the R8600. Are you listening Icom? An Icom R-86 would be a beautiful thing indeed.. 😉

    Reply
    1. Jem Cullen

      As I live in the country with almost no v/uhf signals (and even the local police are encrypted) its too expensive for my HF only needs, I like the comment re “R86” Hf only cut price version – but it wont happen.

      Reply
    2. Mark Fahey

      Token wow – you have dropped by here at the SWLing Post! In my mind, you are the most mysterious (and hence exotic) listener I am aware of. I always enjoy your video posts on YouTube and elsewhere showing the weird and wonderful you capture out in the Mohave – particularly your East Asian numbers station work. Keep it up! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Dan Srebnick

    Dan, thanks for the analysis. I totally agree with your assessment that based upon noise levels and lack of congestion in the HF bands that many of the classic receivers, let alone new high end SDRs, are overkill for today’s listening conditions. Digital noise reduction, however, is quite a useful feature when it works well. That said, I will be keeping my Drake R8B. Actually, it is the second R8B I’ve owned. I sold off the first one after buying the Perseus SDR, regretted it, and later bought another one!

    Reply
    1. Daniel Robinson

      Yes, I have to agree that the Drake R8xxxxx continues to shine for many of us hanging on to SW. I purchased my R8 just after the receiver came out, tweaked the oscillator ONCE, and it has been smack on frequency every since. Love that heavy metal knob compared to the later plastic ones. In terms of readable audio and sensitivity, what can one say? Along with the NRD-515 these are two of the top receivers ever produced.

      Reply

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